Awards and Decorations

Wing Commander Krishna Balakrishna Menon has been posted to a fighter squadron as Commanding Officer since 02 May 83.

Wg Cdr Menon took over the Squadron at a stage when not even a single pilot was fully ops on type. He took the challenge ad through his exceptional organizing ability, dedication and professional skill, brought the Squadron to fully operational state. Presently, all the pilots are fully operational and are 100% rated and as a consequence the Squadron was adjudged the best instrument rated Squadron in the Air Force for 1984. His unit has been given the additional role of Type Training Squadron. He undauntedly took the additional responsibility and accomplished the demanding task of completing conversion of 28 pilots during his tenure as CO.

Wg Cdr Menon is a Qualified Flying Instructor and has 4100 hours of flying to his credit. During exercise "Yudh Abhiyas" his Squadron operated from two locations with limited resources and achieved the task without an incident. Because of his analytical approach, keenness for imparting knowledge and able guidance, this unit has a very good Flight Safety record. He has always displayed exemplary behavior, exceptional resourcefulness and ensured effective utilization of major sources of men and material. He has kept the Squadron as a cohesive unit with extremely high morale because of his personal example, correct guidance, perception of subordinates problems and unusual gift of putting people at ease.

Under the capable leadership of Wg Cdr KB Menon the Squadron was the first Vijay Squadron to become operational in the use of Instrument Runway rating system and to undertake offensive air support by night. Having achieved this capability, his was the only unit to take part in exercise "GLOW WORM I & II" where full capability of IRLS equipment was exploited both by day and night. This went a long way in enhancing the operational image of the Air Force.

For his qualities of leadership, accomplishment of objectives, exceptional professional skill and devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award Vayu Seva Medal to Wing Commander Krishna Balakrishna Menon.

Gp Capt KB Menon has been the Station Commander of one of the units since 01 Aug 90. During this period the unit has maintained an unblemished record of operational efficiency.

In 1991, the main Ops Room and Radar Head had to undergo major renovation requiring the radar to be shut down for six weeks and the Ops Room shifted to the standby location. By meticulous planning, applying management techniques and close monitoring of the repair work, he was able to ensure that the functioning of the ADDC was not disrupted at any stage and that the unit was once again made fully functional in less than half the time allotted for repair work. Under his dynamic leadership, the unit was awarded many trophies and was also adjudged the Best Signal Unit in Central Air Command.

Gp Capt KB Menon revised and upgraded the training syllabi for fighter controllers to bring them in consonance with the existing operational environment. The syllabi for courses conducted at the Air Defence College were modified under his guidance and supervision and a qualitative improvement in training was achieved. As team leader for the acceptance trials of the Indra-1 radar, by his perseverance and interaction with the production agencies, he ensured that the radar was inducted only after all the desired specifications had been met in full. This was done keeping in mind the long term interests of the Air Force.

In recognition of his professional competence, dynamic leadership and astute managerial skills, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Gp Capt KB Menon.

Note: All the data available here is publicly available in the Gazette of India, published by the Indian Government, or from public domain sources, press releases about Awards and Right-To-Information (RTI) Requests. Additionally data shared by veterans is added to the page with permission. No data with respect to serving officers below the rank of AVM is displayed. Information in Gazette of India and Award citations and photographs as released by the Indian Air Force are the only details displayed.

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